Tech

Your Christmas Lights Aren't Causing Your Wi-Fi Woes

All electronics emit signals that can interfere with your Wi-Fi, but Christmas lights aren't the worst offender in your home.

Your Christmas Lights Aren't Causing Your Wi-Fi Woes
Getty Images / David Hecker
Article by Evan Thomas
SMS
December 2, 2015

While Christmas lights do contribute to the electromagnetic noisiness that can interfere with your home Wi-Fi, they're not the worst offender.

That would be your neighbors, whose routers run on the same wireless channels as yours.

Microwaves put out the same 2.4 GHz radiation as many older routers, too.

Don't forget the very walls of your home: The thicker they are, the harder it is for Wi-Fi to get through.

And even your own body, 60 percent of which is water, can absorb Wi-Fi.

So go wild with the Christmas lights. Your biggest risk is probably a blown circuit. (Video via Maryann Johnson / CC BY 3.0 and MGM / UA Entertainment Co.)

This video includes images from Getty Images, icon 54 / CC BY 3.0, Philip Glen / CC BY 3.0 and Lloyd Humphries / CC BY 3.0. Music by Frenic / CC BY 3.0.